1. Red-hot Cats make sloppy Dockers pay
If you looked at some key statistics, Fremantle should have been right in the contest at half-time. The Dockers had more disposals (+8), were dominating clearances (+9) and only had four fewer inside 50s, but the scoreboard told a completely different story. Geelong's stifling pressure and some deplorable Dockers skill errors saw the Cats outscore the home side 7.2 to 2.2 from turnovers in the opening half alone – accounting for most of their 39-point lead at the long break. Two shocking kicks in defence – Michael Johnson's kick-in that was chopped off by Tom Hawkins and Cam Sutcliffe's risky chip inboard – gifted away goals and were symptomatic of a dirty night for Freo.

2. Fyfe v Dangerfield a fizzer
After all the build-up for the mouthwatering prospect of Fyfe v Dangerfield 2.0, it was a letdown when the superstars barely crossed paths. Joel Selwood went to Fyfe early but Freo's new captain didn't have one direct opponent across the four quarters. He tried to will the Dockers into the contest with 28 touches, six clearances and a goal, but his best efforts weren't enough. Dangerfield spent plenty of time floating forward and twice outmarked Joel Hamling to get on the scoreboard. It wasn't a headline-grabbing performance like his Cats debut in round one last year – saying that he still finished with 25 disposals, five clearances and three goals – but Chris Scott would've been pleased his charges shared the load after Geelong's overreliance on 'Dangerwood' last year.

3. Sandi's towering presence
Nobody would've been happier than Aaron Sandilands when the 'third man up' at stoppages was outlawed, and the 211cm big man must've been rubbing his hands together with glee when Geelong ruckman Zac Smith was a late withdrawal on Sunday. It left Rhys Stanley and Mark Blicavs to fight what was always going to be a losing battle. Freo fans would've loved seeing Sandilands' first hit-out going straight down returning skipper Nat Fyfe's throat, and the 34-year-old (15 disposals, 48 hit-outs) gave the Dockers first use (48-34 clearances) for the entire contest. They couldn't capitalise but it bodes well for the season once the Dockers find better chemistry.

4. Swing when you're winning
Harry Taylor didn't set the world on fire in his new role in attack over the JLT Community Series, raising questions whether the Cats should persevere with the tactic. The veteran didn't exert a huge influence on Sunday night's contest, but he helped straighten the Cats up and offered another marking target alongside brute Tom Hawkins. Taylor also went back to shore up defence towards the end of quarters and finished with four marks and 17 disposals. While Lachie Henderson, Tom Lonergan and Tom Stewart stand up down back then Chris Scott is sure to continue the Taylor experiment. 

5. Cockatoo kicks a cracker
Cats fans have been patient with young gun Nakia Cockatoo since he shot up the to be a surprise top-10 draft selection in 2014, but the electric 20-year-old has shown glimpses and on Sunday night he delivered an early nomination for Goal of the Year. Sprinting clear on the wing in the final term, Cockatoo switched on the afterburners, took two bounces, backed himself to outrun a lunging Michael Johnson, had another bounce inside 50 and produced a cool checkside worthy of another Geelong player who used to wear the famous No.5, in a clear reminder of his sheer talent.